Cat Fire Pump Engines
Zeppelin Power Systems supplies Cat diesel engines as drivers for stationary fire pumps from 172 to 2,350 bkW (230 to 3,151 bhp). The 3406C, 3412 and C18 are UL Listed, FM Approved and NFPA 20 compliant. MCS-approved ratings are available for marine and offshore installations, and factory-certified hazardous location ratings for petrochemical applications.
A fire pump engine has one job that cannot be negotiated: it has to start. Every weekly test, and the one time it matters. Cat fire pump engines are built for exactly that — high-pressure direct injection for reliable cold starts, a factory-fitted dual-voltage jacket water heater, an automatic stop-start system and 24 V electric starting are standard across the range.
Which Cat engines are UL Listed and FM Approved?
Three series are UL Listed, FM Approved and NFPA 20 compliant: 3406C, 3412 and C18. These are the models to specify wherever UL or FM approval is explicitly required.
| Model | Manifold | Power hp | Speed | Emissions | UL / FM | NFPA 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3406C | wet | 292 · 420 | 1.750 rpm | non-certified | yes | compliant |
| 3406C | wet | 430 | 2.100 rpm | non-certified | yes | compliant |
| 3406C | dry | 370 · 460 | 1.750 rpm | non-certified | yes | compliant |
| 3406C | dry | 482 | 2.100 rpm | non-certified | yes | compliant |
| 3406C | dry | 455 | 2.300 rpm | non-certified | yes | compliant |
| 3412 | wet | 638 | 1.750 rpm | non-certified | yes | compliant |
| 3412 | wet | 739 | 1.900 / 2.100 rpm | non-certified | yes | compliant |
| C18 | dry | 700 | 1.500 rpm | non-certified | yes | compliant |
| C18 | dry | 600 · 700 | 1.750 / 1.900 / 2.100 rpm | U.S. EPA Tier 3 | yes | compliant |
| C18 | dry | 800 | 1.750 / 1.900 / 2.100 rpm | U.S. EPA Tier 2 | yes | compliant |
Emission ratings refer to U.S. EPA standards for stationary emergency fire pump engines. "Non-certified" means the rating is intended for markets without a corresponding certification requirement.
What other ratings are available?
The ratings below are not UL Listed and not FM Approved. Caterpillar designates them "NFPA 20 Intent": they are engineered to the requirements of NFPA 20 but are not third-party tested and listed. Where NFPA 20 applies, the standard calls for listed or approved components. The series in the table above. The ratings below serve markets where NFPA 20 is not mandated, as well as marine and hazardous location applications where MCS approval or hazardous location certification is the governing criterion.
| Model | Manifold | Power hp | Speed | Emissions | NFPA 20 | MCS | Ex |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C7 ACERT | wet | 230 · 275 | 2.200 rpm | N/A | Intent ¹˒² | yes | yes |
| C9 ACERT | wet | 361 | 1.800 rpm | IMO Tier II | Intent ¹ | yes | — |
| C9 ACERT | wet | 325 | 2.200 rpm | IMO Tier II | Intent ¹˒² | — | — |
| C9 ACERT | wet | 340 | 2.200 rpm | IMO Tier II | Intent ¹˒² | — | yes |
| C15 ACERT | wet | 536 | 1.800 / 1.900 / 2.000 rpm | IMO Tier II | Intent ¹˒² | — | yes |
| C18 ACERT | wet | 624 | 1.800 rpm | U.S. EPA Tier 3 | Intent ¹ | yes | — |
| C32 ACERT | wet | 916 | 1.800 rpm | IMO Tier II | Intent ¹˒² | yes | — |
| C32 ACERT | wet | 1.300 | 1.800 rpm | IMO Tier II | Intent ¹˒² | yes | — |
| C32 ACERT | wet | 1.000 | 1.600 / 1.750 / 1.800 rpm | IMO Tier II | Intent ¹˒² | yes | — |
| C32 ACERT | wet | 860 · 920 · 1.100 | 2.100 rpm | IMO Tier II | Intent ¹˒² | — | yes |
| 3508 | wet | 950 | 1.460 rpm | non-certified | Intent | — | — |
| 3508 | wet | 1.065 | 1.750 rpm | non-certified | Intent | — | — |
| 3508 | wet | 1.000 | 1.800 rpm | non-certified | Intent ² | yes | — |
| 3512 | wet | 1.430 | 1.460 rpm | non-certified | Intent | — | — |
| 3512 | wet | 1.600 | 1.750 rpm | non-certified | Intent | — | — |
| 3512 | wet | 1.500 | 1.800 rpm | non-certified | Intent ² | yes | — |
| 3516 | wet | 1.900 | 1.460 rpm | non-certified | Intent | — | — |
| 3516 | wet | 1.985 | 1.750 rpm | non-certified | Intent | — | — |
| 3516 | wet | 2.000 | 1.800 rpm | non-certified | Intent ² | yes | — |
| 3516 | dry | 2.000 | 1.800 rpm | non-certified | — | — | — |
| 3512C HD | dry | 2.442 | 1.800 rpm | IMO Tier II | Intent ¹ | yes | — |
| 3512C HD | dry | 2.250 · 2.365 | 1.800 rpm | IMO Tier II | Intent ² | yes | — |
| 3516C HD | dry | 2.576 | 1.800 rpm | IMO Tier II | Intent ¹ | yes | — |
| 3516C HD | dry | 3.151 | 1.800 rpm | IMO Tier II | Intent ² | yes | — |
Intent = Caterpillar designation, not a third-party certification. Not UL Listed, not FM Approved.
¹ Meets NFPA 20 intent requirements prior to 2013. Does not include dual ECU.
² Engine rating does not include 10 % overload — pump must be sized 10 % below rated power to meet NFPA 20 requirements.
Haz. Loc. = factory-certified for hazardous locations. Certification of further ratings may be possible via an authorised Pyroban representative.
MCS = approved by a marine classification society.
Additional components may be required for some ratings to meet NFPA 20 intent requirements. We clarify this during sizing.
172 to 359 bkW
Sprinkler systems in warehouses, production facilities and logistics centres. Where UL/FM approval is required, the 3406C is the choice; C7 and C9 cover marine and hazardous location applications.
400 to 597 bkW
Data centres, high-bay warehouses and larger industrial facilities. The C18 is the newest engine in the line and the default recommendation for new installations: dual ECUs with automatic switching, UL Listed and FM Approved.
642 to 970 bkW
Large industrial sites, offshore platforms and port facilities. The C32 ACERT offers the widest choice of MCS and hazardous location ratings in
1,066 to 2,350 bkW
High fire water demand: tank farms, petrochemical plants, power stations and large offshore installations. Covered by the 3512, 3516 and the 3512C and 3516C HD series.
Cat C18 is the default choice for new installations
The Cat C18 is the newest engine in the Cat fire pump line. It delivers 447 to 597 bkW (600 to 800 bhp), is UL Listed and FM Approved and meets U.S. EPA Tier 3 and Tier 2 standards for stationary emergency fire pump engines.
What matters for the design: the C18 comes with dual ECUs and automatic switching as standard. A failure of the primary control unit does not stop the engine. That is what NFPA 20 has required of electronically governed engines since the 2013 edition.
What do UL, FM, NFPA 20 and MCS mean?
UL Listed: Tested and listed by Underwriters Laboratories as an internal combustion engine for driving centrifugal fire pumps.
FM Approved: Approved by FM Approvals. Where FM Global is the insurer, FM-approved components are typically mandatory.
NFPA 20: "Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection". Since the 2013 edition, a second engine control unit is among the requirements for electronically governed engines. Ratings marked "NFPA 20 Intent" meet the requirements of editions prior to 2013.
MCS Approved: Approved by a marine classification society for shipboard and offshore use.
Hazardous Location Certified: Factory-certified for use in hazardous areas such as petrochemical plants and offshore installations.
How does this relate to European codes? Cat fire pump engines are approved under US regulations. Sprinkler systems in Germany, Austria and Switzerland are designed to DIN EN 12845 and approved via VdS CEA 4001. Which framework governs your project depends on the insurer, the client and the type of facility. Talk to us early in the design phase. We review the requirements together with you and the pump manufacturer.
Your point of contact in Germany - from sizing to emergency service
We do more than supply fire pump engines. We size them with you, support the installation in your system and keep them ready to run throughout their service life. Zeppelin Power Systems has been a Caterpillar partner for more than 60 years and brings its own engineering, plant construction and maintenance capability.
In Germany we operate a nationwide service network with service centres in Achim, Bremen, Duisburg, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, Leipzig, Munich and Ulm. Our largest manufacturing and overhaul centre in Achim near Bremen equips new engines, overhauls them and runs test bed trials. Our service helpdesk is available around the clock, 365 days a year.
For your project this means a single point of contact for sizing, supply, commissioning and maintenance — with genuine spare parts, oil and coolant analysis in our own laboratory and modular service agreements you assemble to suit your needs.
Consultation and planning
- requirements, applicable code and approval needs
Sizing
- matching pump curve, engine power, speed and the 10 % overload allowance
Engineering and integration
- interfaces, dimensions, weight, cooling concept and installation
Commissioning and documentation
- test run, handover and evidence for third-party inspection
Maintenance and emergency service
- scheduled servicing, parts, oil and coolant analysis, 24-hour breakdown service
Downloads
Frequently asked questions
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